Share this Page

Neymar was ‘close’ to Manchester United move, says agent

Neymar’s agent Wagner Ribeiro claims the Barcelona superstar came “close” to a move to Manchester United.

Ligue 1 champions PSG also attempted to sign the Brazil star this summer and they apparently came “very close” to a transfer, according to Ribeiro.

He told ESPN Brasil that Paris Saint-Germain were willing to spend €190million to land the Barcelona forward in the transfer window – a suggestion, whi has already been refuted by PSG.

PSG had also put together a contract which would have seen the Brazil international earn approximately £650,000 a week, according to Ribeiro, but Barca rejected the offer and instead persuaded Neymar to sign a new five-year contract.

Ribeiro told ESPN Brasil: “He was very close to joining PSG. There he would have earned €40m a year, free [after tax]. PSG were ready to pay the buy-out clause of €190m.

“Neymar was also close to a move to Manchester United. But he renewed his contract for less money with Barcelona, because he wanted to stay in Barcelona.”

PSG have been quick to deny that story though and according to L’Equipe, a PSG source told the French daily: “It’s totally false.

“With employer contributions on top, that salary would have cost more than €60m a year. It’s obscene. Neymar used us to strengthen his hand with Barcelona.”

Neymar, 24, joined Barca from Santos in 2013 in a controversial deal and has gone on to win two LaLiga titles, the Copa del Rey twice and the Champions League in 2015.